To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
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Click the image above to watch the video.
The Ivy Copycat Grilled Vegetable Salad with Lime Vinaigrette
serves 2 as an entree
INGREDIENTS
for the dressing
Juice of 1-2 limes
match the lime juice with an equal part of olive oil so it is 50/50.
Add about 1 TBS each of balsamic vinegar (or other vinegar) and agave
Season to taste with S&P.
Combine & taste. Tweak to suite your palate.
for the salad
Your choice of greens – or a mixture (arugula, romaine, butter lettuce, watercress, field greens – your call)
1 zucchini
1 yellow squash
2 ears fresh corn – in the husks
1 bunch asparagus – tough bottoms trimmed
1 red bell pepper – seeded
1/2 cucumber – diced
1 handful cherry tomatoes – haved
3-4 radishes – chopped
1/4 small red onion – diced
1 avocado – chopped
OPTONAL – chopped herbs (basil or cilantro), protein (chickpeas, black beans, vegan chicken or any other protein you desire)
DIRECTIONS
Make the dressing while the veggies are grilling.
Slice the zucchini & squash in 1/4 inch thick slices & grill until softened & there are grill marks – turning a few times. Do the same with the red pepper & asparagus. Set aside. Grill the corn in the husks until blackened on the outside. Cool & throw the husks away then cut the corn from the cobs.
Now – just assemble the salad the way you would any other. If there are going to be leftover veggies – do not dress them. They will stay fresher in the fridge undressed.
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
All my posts now have a VERY customizable PRINT & PDF option. Create a PDF & save the recipe to your computer or just print it out. It offers a “remove images” option & you can delete any part of the post you do not need before printing. The button is below by the Twitter & Facebook links.
This is a really easy recipe but truly makes a fuckton. So, unless you are feeding a large group or intend to eat this for days, consider cutting the recipe down. The veggies you choose to use are up to you. This can be made with no veggies at all or with regular pasta. It is a very forgiving dish.
Click the image above to watch the video.
Vegan Vegetable Spicy Szechuan Lo Mein Noodles
Feeds 10 or more
INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 lbs of SOFT (or cooked) lo mein or chow mein noodles or even cooked spaghetti
1/2 lb vegan meat of choice (I used leftover Tofurky ham) – diced (very optional)
for the veggies
2 tsp hot chili oil (or other oil)
2 tsp sesame oil
1 small onion – diced
6 long beans (or other green beans) chopped
1 bell pepper (I used 1/2 red & 1/2 yellow) – diced
1 zucchini – diced
2 dozen snow peas – trimmed & sliced
6 mushrooms – sliced
2 small heads of broccoli – cut into florets
5 or 6 carrots – chopped
1 cup purple (or other) cabbage – chopped
8 oz can sliced water chesnuts – drained
6 bird’s eye chilis – split (optional)
1/2 cup water
for the sauce
2 TBS minced ginger
4 garlic cloves – minced
1 tsp Chinese 5 Spice
2 TBS Shaoxing cooking wine or rice vinegar
4 TBS light soy sauce
2 TBS dark soy sauce
1 tsp agave
1 large handful Thai basil (or other basil)
GARNISH – more shredded basil or cilantro, sesame seeds, sliced scallions, lime wedges
DIRECTIONS
In a very large wok, heat the two oils. Add all the ingredients in the “for the veggies” list. Heat over high heat for about 5 minutes or until the veggies are tender.
Add the noodles, faux meat (if using) & everything in the “for the sauce” list. Combine & heat through.
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
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All my posts now have a VERY customizable PRINT & PDF option. Create a PDF & save the recipe to your computer or print it out. It offers a “remove images” option & you can delete any part of the post you do not need before printing. The button is below by the Twitter & Facebook links.
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Click the image above to watch the video.
My friend, Katie, turned me on to kitchari. Apparently, you can eat it – JUST IT – for 1-7 days straight & it calms your digestive tract & detoxes you system but with the added benefit of feeling like decadent comfort food. Also – mung beans are dirt cheap. (Articles on the subject are linked at the bottom of this post). This recipe makes about 7 quarts which is a fuckton so – unless you are feeding a lot of people or want to freeze some – consider reducing the recipe.
I used an Instant Pot to make mine but this can be done in a slow cooker or stove top. I really recommend Instant Pots, though, because they steam, pressure cook, slow cook, cook rice, cook cakes, saute, cook eggs & clean windows. I got my huge one HERE for just over $100 & I am VERY happy with it. I can now get rid of several other appliances.
***NOTE – I soaked my beans on the counter overnight & in the fridge a second night but this is not necessary. If you want to move more quickly – boil some water, add your beans & let them soak for an hour.
Ayurveda Kitchari – Vegan Mung Bean Stew
Caters a party so be ready for a lot
INGREDIENTS
3 cups mung beans (I used half whole green & half split green – as seen above) – soaked (see ***NOTE above)
1-2 TBS coconut oil or olive oil
1 onion – chopped
6 garlic cloves – chopped
1 TBS turmeric
1 TBS ground cumin
1 TBS (or more – to taste) salt (I used pink Himalayan)
1 TBS ground mustard
1 TBS ground coriander
1 TBS ground pepper
1 TBS ground fenugreek (optional)
1/4 tsp asafoetida
1 (15 oz) can coconut milk (I used lite)
6 TBS minced ginger
1 cup cilantro
Vegetables are optional. Use any you prefer but I added:
5 small turnips – diced
5 small golden beets – diced
1 large sweet potato – diced
5 oz baby kale
1 tomato – diced
6 cups water
2 cups basmati (or other long grain white rice)
(If you are making your rice separate from the stew, as I did, it is nice to add a tsp cumin SEEDS & 6 green cardamom pods to it as it cooks but that is not necessary.)
GARNISH – coconut butter, cilantro, crushed red pepper
DIRECTIONS
Quick soak your beans (see note above) if you did not soak them overnight or for 2 days, as I did.)
Traditionally, the rice is cooked in the same pot with everything else. My Instant Pot was not large enough so I cooked it separately. This is your call – or maybe your pot size will determine your choice but it does not matter much either way.
Rinse the rice. Set aside.
Heat the oil in a very large pot (or your Instant Pot – my pot is 8 Quarts) and soften. Add the garlic & spices & stir to combine.
If you are using a slow cooker, transfer the onions & spices to it. Everything else is the same no matter whether you are slow cooking, Instant Pot cooking or going stove top. Only the cooking time will vary.
Now, add everything else to the pot. If your pot is easily deep enough to hold the rice, too, add that. If you are cooking the rice in the same pot – add 4 additional cups of water to the 6 cups used if you are cooking the rice separately (assuming your rice directions ask for 2 cups water per 1 cup rice. Adjust accordingly if your rice has different directions). Or – just cook the rice separately as the package directs. If you are making your rice separate from the stew, as I did, it is nice to add 1 tsp cumin SEEDS & 6 green cardamom pods to it as it cooks but that is not necessary.
Slow cooker – cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
Stove top – bring to a boil uncovered for 5 minutes. Reduced heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes or more or until everything is tender.
Instant Pot – seal & cook manually for 10 minutes.
If it is to thick, thin it with extra water. If it is too thin, let is simmer, uncovered, for a while longer.
Serve with rice (if you cooked it separately) and garnish with coconut butter (burns fat & lowers cholesterol) and lots of cilantro & maybe some crushed red pepper.
Here are some articles for more info on kitchari & using it to detox:
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
All my posts now have a VERY customizable PRINT & PDF option. Create a PDF & save the recipe to your computer or print it out. It offers a “remove images” option & you can delete any part of the post you do not need before printing. The button is below by the Twitter & Facebook links.
MOST exciting new thing in my life? My brand, spanking new YOUTUBE channel! I set it up two days ago & there are already two videos. One to make Vegan Firecracker Chicken and one for St. Patrick’s Day to make a Last Word Cocktail – pictured above.
As my editing skills & equipment improve – so will the videos but I was just so excited to get started – I just jumped right in. Please SUBSCRIBE to my channel!
Ok – so – if you watched the Last Word video – you saw that I was also cooking up this creation – just in time for you to cook tomorrow! Easy & vegan – it is flexible. Use the veggies I suggest – or not. I used Gardein Beefless Tips but Beyond Meat Beefy Crumbles or even the Beast Burger would work! The photo I used shows the green beans & Brussels sprouts I considered adding but then did not.
*NOTE – I used a combination or bouillon, soy sauce, Marmite & Kitchen Bouquet. This made for a sodium-intense stew. I recommend starting with just veggie stock and then adding one or a few of these other things until you get the intensity you want in both flavor & color (Kitchen Bouquet being best for the deep brown color) – but add them in increments so you avoid a salt-fest.
St. Patrick’s Day Vegan Irish Beef & Cabbage Stew
Serves a lot – like – at least 6
INGREDIENTS
9+ oz vegan beef – you can pan-sear & brown it first, if you like. I did not.
1/2 cup vegan butter (or olive oil)
1 onion – chopped
2 potatoes – cubed
5 carrots – chopped
8 mushrooms – sliced
4 celery stalks – chopped
2 cups cabbage – chopped
1-2 jalapenos – diced (optional)
9 oz peas
1 cup pearl barley or other grain (optional)
up to 1 cup flour or a few TBS cornstarch
10 cups veggie stock
1 TBS pepper
Optional – fresh chopped herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano or parsley. I used none.
*OPTIONAL – a few TBS soy sauce OR 1/2 tsp Marmite OR 2 tsp Kitchen Bouquet OR a combination *see note above
DIRECTIONS
Warm the butter or oil & then add onions, celery, mushrooms, and jalapenos (if using). Saute until the onions & celery are soft.
Add potatoes & carrots & beef. Combine. Add stock & cabbage & pepper & chopped herbs (if using) & pearl barley. Bring to a boil. Whisk either 1/2 cup of flour or a few TBS cornstarch into some water & add it to the stew. As it boils – it should thicken. Repeat incrementally to thicken the stew more if necessary. Conversely – add water to thin it.
Now taste it & see if you want to add Marmite, Kitchen Bouquet or soy sauce. Adjust flavors to suit yourself. I added two halved potatoes to mine to draw some sat out.
It is done when the veggies are all tender & it is thick as you like & the seasonings seem right. Stir in the peas. Serve!
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
All my posts now have a VERY customizable PRINT & PDF option. Create a PDF & save the recipe to your computer or print it out. It offers a “remove images” option & you can delete any part of the post you do not need before printing. The button is below by the Twitter & Facebook links.
I have written about my favorite local Thai market, Bangluck, many times. I have also mention Silom market. Silom is where I found the vegan beef I used in my Vegan Spicy Szechuan Orange Beef & Wide Rice Noodles – seen just above. But – while I was impressed with the vegan meat discoveries in the center freezers – somehow – I missed that they have an entire WALL of freezers – stocked to the brim with vegan meat options! Look at this shit!
They have dozens & dozens of options. Some are already prepared – like orange or sesame chicken – and some are not. Huge bags, small bags. Seafood, beef, pork & chicken. Just a regular vegan wet dream! INCREDIBLE find! Not sure how I missed it all these years.
The store itself is very ghetto and the security guard out front suggests Silom is a front for some other more nefarious industry than peddling soy products. But still – it is CHOCK full of cheap but exotic rices & sauces & veggies & BIZARRE-looking desserts & bug-based pastes. Yes – bug. That story is HERE. Here are a few more views of the mecca that is Silom.
That is some fine looking jewelry!
Anyway – I love this place & they almost always have Keffir lime leaves which are like a Thai restaurant in a tiny bag. They smell SO good!
Anyway – I digress – because I used my favorite faux chicken ever – Beyond Meat – in this Pad Thai. I used the Pad Thai noodles you see above because they were handy at Silom. You can use some like this or ramen noodles or even regular pasta.
I also used tamarind paste (also from Silom) but it is not critical. Not critical but it does add authenticity.
If you cannot find the ingredients I used (tamarind paste or the homemade vegan fish sauce) – there are plenty of other options. I will list a few in the ingredients list.
Vegan Chicken & Vegetable Pad Thai Rice Noodles
serves 2-4 (depending on appetites)
INGREDIENTS
1 lb pad thai (or other) noodles – cooked according to the package
9 oz vegan chicken
2 TBS coconut oil (or other cooking oil)
1 red bell pepper – cut into slivers
2 cups shredded or matchstick carrots
2 garlic cloves – chopped
1-2 red (or green) jalapeno peppers – diced (optional)
1 small head broccoli – cut into florets
1 cup sprouts
GARNISH – cilantro, lime wedges, chopped peanuts (I used crushed almonds)
for the Pad Thai sauce
(double this recipe if you like a heavy sauce on your noodles)
3 TBS of brown sugar (more if you like a sweeter Pad Thai)
1/4 cup liquid aminos (or soy sauce or tamari)
2 TBS rice vinegar
2 TBS lime juice
2 garlic cloves – minced
1 TBS chili paste – sambal oelek (or sriracha if you cannot find chili paste) – OPTIONAL
1 TBS tamarind paste (or tomato paste or peanut butter – each will be very different but still tasty)
Either whisk the sauce ingredients together or warm them on a stove until the sugar dissolves.
Heat the oil in a large saute pan. Add the red bell, sprouts, broccoli & carrots & saute until tender but not soggy. Add chicken & garlic & combine for one minute. Add noodles & sauce (if you doubled the sauce recipe, add it incrementally until you have a ratio that suits you). Combine & heat through.
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
All my posts now have a VERY customizable PRINT & PDF option. Create a PDF & save the recipe to your computer or print it out. It offers a “remove images” option & you can delete any part of the post you do not need before printing. The button is below by the Twitter & Facebook links.
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So – my last post was a month ago. It was my Clean Cooking & a 21-day Arbonne Healthy Eating Detox – Vegan or Vegetarian Style post describing a 21-day detox/cleanse I was launching on. I never posted about it again for a few reasons: the fact that the recipes from the Arbonne site made GINORMOUS quantities & I ate the same thing for days & because I just had no passion for cooking while on it. I ended it two days earlier than my 21 day goal because – Superbowl party. After nearly 3 weeks of deprivation – I lost 4 pounds. 4 miserable pounds. I should not complain because one friend of mine lost nothing & another gained 4 pounds. So – that cleanse is what you make of it but it was a great jump start to shock me out of deeply-entrenched habits. Now – I am obsessed with TEA and pay way more attention to what I eat & where calories are coming from. Which brings me to my day yesterday.
I was at the mall exchanging a birthday gift & realized it was lunch time & that I was hungry. My choices were mainly a sushi spot & the Cheesecake Factory. Since I no longer eat fish, I Googled the Cheesecake Factory’s menu to see if they had any HEALTHY (reading – low in calories) options. The Cheesecake Factory is notorious for shockingly caloric options (see HERE) and I did not want to eat a 2000 calorie lunch – as I am still trying to keep my daily calorie intake to about 1200. I was pleased to see a skinny cocktail menu and a super food menu. So – I went in and I ordered a skinny margarita & the vegan Cobb salad. I got the Cobb because I did not want to eat any of their 490 calorie “skinny” menu items. I thought I would be really good & get a salad with proteins (garbanzos & quinoa) and the healthy fat avocado.
The drink was small but tasty & only clocked in at 150 calories. Very happy with that. The salad was not gargantuan, not over-dressed & was quite good. Looks good, right? Looks healthy. Proud of myself, I considered ordering a second cocktail as I entered the stuff I had just consumed in My Fitness Pal. It was then that my world came shattering down around me. That fucker of a salad had 1210 calories!!!!! 1210!!!! I could go to McDonald’s and get a Big Mac, medium fries & a medium NON-DIET Coke for under 1100. Don’t believe me? Look HERE on McDonald’s own site. How the FUCK is THAT possible??? A salad? Without a creamy dressing or any cheese or meat or bacon or croutons or fried wontons or ANYTHING naughty? Avocado is fatty but it is not cheese & bacon fatty! It is not BIG MAC fatty! And that photo shows the salad with dressing on it. It really was NOT soaked in dressing. I was SO freaked out! I felt SO cheated! For 1200 calories I could have gotten pizza & wine. Or almost anything on the menu. Seriously. What the fuck? So – almonds & sunflower seeds in addition to avocado & boom! An ass like Kim Kardashian. I felt like I had undone 3 weeks of deprivation with one Goddamn SALAD! Ugh. I complained about it all fucking day. And I am complaining now. I will never EVER enter the CottageCheesecake AssFactory again. I swear it.
So – driven to compensate for that outrageous lunch – I made this VERY healthy stew today. I used a bunch of sketchy veggies cresting their use-by dates & it came out delicious. You can add or remove produce to suit your tastes. I only used bit of olive oil to roast the veggies & that was it. You could eliminate even that by NOT roasting them & just throwing them in the pot to boil. Your call.
I served myself a hearty portion of this stew today over a very carefully measured 1/4 cup of mixed ancient grains. Truth be told – this stew does not need a grain to make it satisfying so – serve it naked or over the grain of your choice.
Turmeric is a very healthy spice. Here are some of the benefits of turmeric. Look at that list or THIS one. It will make you want to use vibrant turmeric as often as possible.
Makes a LOT – enough to feed 6-8 (even without a grain)
INGREDIENTS
1 head cauliflower – cut into bite-sized florets
10-15 carrots – chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 large onion – chopped
1 red bell pepper – cut into matchsticks
2 jalapenos – chopped (optional)
2 (15 oz) cans of garbanzo beans (drained)
2 (28 oz) cans of diced tomatoes
10 garlic cloves – chopped
10 oz broccoli (VERY optional – I only used the broccoli rabe I had because it was wilting)
1-2 TBS turmeric (start with one & add more if you like)
1 BS ground cumin
1 TBS ground coriander
2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ground cardamom (LOVELY but can be omitted if you cannot find it)
4 cups vegetable stock (or water)
Olive oil
S&P
Chopped parsley or cilantro as garnish
DIRECTIONS
If roasting the vegetables:
Heat the oven to 475.
Toss the cauliflower, carrots, bell pepper, onion & jalapenos in a light coating of olive oil & some S&P. Roast for 20-30 minutes or until just beginning to brown. Add them to a large stock pot with the remaining ingredients & cook until the veggies are all tender & the stew thickens a bit.
If not roasting them – just throw them in with the remaining ingredients & cook until the veggies are all tender & the stew thickens a bit. Add water to thin it if it gets too thick. Cook it down if it is too watery. Season with S&P & garnish with parsley or cilantro.
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
This is really easy & does not use any ingredients that are especially exotic. I added WAY too many hot peppers & blasted my face off with this one – so – I will recommend using less spice here than I did. I used Gardein Beefless Tips that I found in the freezer section of my local Ralph’s. You can use these or any other meat replacement you prefer. The ratio of veggies is an entirely personal one. You can take my suggestions or wing it – or just go straight beef & rice. Your call. But it is easy & bursting with flavor!
Spicy Vegan Szechuan Beef & Vegetable Stir-Fry
Serves 4 with cooked rice
INGREDIENTS
Cooked rice of your choice
2 TBS coconut oil (or other cooking oil)
9 oz meatless beef – defrosted
2 cups broccoli florets
2 bell peppers – seeded & cut into strips
3 carrots – chopped
1 leek or medium onion – chopped
1 large zucchini – chopped
4 oz mushrooms – sliced
1-2 jalapenos or serranos (seeded to lessen the heat) – or to taste – diced
1-3 tsp cornstarch (optional)
for the sauce
2 TBS vegan oyster-flavored or mushroom-flavored sauce
Mix the sauce & pour it into the bag with the faux beef & smoosh it around to marinate.
Heat the coconut oil in a wok or large fry pan. I added the leeks & carrots & mushrooms first – because they take the longest to soften.
Add the fest of the produce. Broccoli & zucchini cook fastest – so I added them last. Once the veggies are cooked to your liking, stir in the beef & marinade. You might want to add a bit of water – but not much. If the sauce feels too thin – whisk in a tsp of cornstarch. Mine did not need it but yours might. Toss to heat through & serve with rice.
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
All my posts now have a VERY customizable PRINT & PDF option. Create a PDF & save the recipe to your computer or print it out. It offers a “remove images” option & you can delete any part of the post you do not need before printing. The button is below by the Twitter & Facebook links.
This past weekend, I went to NYC to host 90210: The Musical. I had no idea what to expect. I did not know if the writers & cast were talented. I did not know the take they would have on the show, on my character & maybe even of me. When they invited me, I had to reconcile to laugh with everyone if I got roasted brutally. The fact is, I made fun of a lot of the aspects of the show myself – even as I was still shooting it. Plus – I like to think I am able to laugh at myself – so – fuck it! I went. And I am SO HAPPY that I did!!!
HERE is a little review that includes a short video clip.
The show is brilliant! Smart, dirty & REALLY funny. Several females roles are played by men which just adds to the hilarity. I honestly cannot recommend this show any more highly. I saw it two nights in a row & I feel like I could watch it infinitely more times. And what a surreal & amazing experience – to not only see such a large part of my professional life presented this way – but even my character – Emily Valentine. Such a singular experience. A highlight in my life. Truly.
Now – on to food. Every get overly ambitious about your intentions to eat healthier or come home from the farmer’s market with enough produce to cater a vegetarian wedding? Ever end up just sorta watching that produce wilt & decay – because you ended up eating Kraft mac & cheese three days in a row or you went out to dinner all week? SUCKS to watch all that costly food go to waste.
Well – upon my return from NYC, that is where I found myself. Looking, sadly, at a fuckton of produce that needed eating. No way to eat it all as separate courses. Most frustrating was 2-3 heads of romaine lettuce just starting to brown at the edges & along the thick spine. What to do, what to do? My freezer is already chock full of frozen leftovers from past slow cooker efforts to use less than robust produce. Then – I spotted a leftover box of rice from my favorite Thai restaurant – Torung. Aha! I would make a stir-fry! And – guess what? I decided to add LETTUCE to this stir-fry. And why the fuck not? Lettuce is a leafy green – just like spinach or bok choy. So – I used it & it worked.
This dish is – as is often the case with my recipes – the result of what I had & what I needed to use. You can customize this any way you want. Add water chestnuts or baby corn. Lose the tomatoes. Lose the serrano peppers. Add sriracha. Whateverthefuck you want. It makes a boatload so – unless you are feeding 6 people or you want to eat lots of leftovers – reduce this recipe – maybe by 50%.
Spicy Vegan Vegetable Fried Rice with Chicken & Romaine Lettuce
Serves 4-6
INGREDIENTS
1 or more cups of cooked rice
Coconut (or other) oil
10 Brussels sprouts – sliced or shredded
4-6 carrots (I used heirloom and regular) – sliced
2 bell peppers (I used 5 small gypsy peppers) – diced
3 serrano peppers (or to taste) – sliced (remove seeds to reduce heat)
10 cherry tomatoes – halved (plus a few extra – quartered – as garnish)
7 scallions – green & white parts – sliced
1 head romaine (or other) lettuce – chopped
Fresh spinach as a bed for the rice – optional
Lime wedges as garnish (optional)
for the sauce
1/4 cup liquid aminos (or soy sauce or tamari)
3 TBS fresh ginger (or less – if you are not big on ginger) – I used a squeezable kind
1/4 chop Shao Xing wine
1 TBS chili garlic sauce
2 TBS hoisin sauce
1 TBS toasted sesame oil
DIRECTIONS
Heat 1-2 TBS coconut (or other) oil in a wok or very large frying pan. You might need to add more oil along the way – if things dry out – but that is your call.
The rest of this can really be done any whichaway – just start with the veggies that are take longest to cook first. I started with the shredded Brussels sprouts because I like how they taste when they get sorta charred. Here is how I proceeded:
Add the Brussels sprouts & then the carrots & peppers & serranos.
I added more coconut oil, at this point. Stir.
I then literally put the entire head of broccoli in the pan & sliced it off right into the pan. Seemed less messy that way. I reserve the stems to steam for my dogs. Add the mushrooms & chicken. Combine. Add the rice.
Add the tomatoes and scallions (reserving some green scallions for garnish). Combine & then add the lettuce.
Stir in the sauce ingredients & heat through.
Serve on spinach (if you want to ) and garnish with scallions & raw tomato. Lime wedges might be nice, too, though I did not have any. See? Easy!
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
Pasta salads. Who doesn’t like them? I guess – people who don’t like pasta but do such people exist? Pasta is a universal thing – like bread. Is there anyone that doesn’t like bread? Anyway – lots of pasta salads are drenched in mayo-based sauces & there is no shortage of those that object to mayo. Even those of us that love mayo are hesitant to eat a pasta salad with mayo that has been sitting out in the backyard BBQ too long. So – why not eliminate two major objections & make a vegan pasta salad? Nothing in it quick to spoil & nothing white & creamy to freak out the mayo-haters.
I used ingredients I happened to have so – this is a very flexible salad. I wanted to use edamame but only had Lima beans – so fuck it. I used Lima beans. I had those gorgeous watermelon radishes but they were used primarily for their looks. You could eliminate any ingredient – or add some – with no negative impact. This is a light & clean alternative to accompany the entrees at BBQ’s which – let’s face it – tend to be meaty & heavy.
Vegan Vegetable Pasta Salad with Spicy Asian Sesame Peanut Dressing
INGREDIENTS
1 lb of pasta
6 oz edamame (or Lima beans)
1 small head of broccoli – cut into small florets
4 carrots – grated
2 bell peppers (red, yellow or orange are prettiest) – grated or diced
1 (15 oz) can chickpeas – drained & rinsed
1-4 jalapenos – seeded & either grated or minced
4 radishes – grated or chopped
3 scallions – sliced
1/4 cup cilantro – chopped
1/2 cup slivered almonds
3/4 cup roasted peanuts
GARNISH – extra radish slices. cilantro, extra peanuts
Cook the pasta & add the broccoli for the last minute or two that it cooks. Drain & rinse pasta & broccoli under cold water.
Toss the salad ingredients together.
Add some dressing & toss. Add as much as you like – which might be less than you made. Overdressed salads get icky so add dressing incrementally until it is where you like it.
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
Slow cooker recipes. Is anything better than just dumping a bunch of ingredients into a slow cooker, going away for hours and then coming home to dinner – warm & waiting? I think not!
I used yellow split lentils or urad dal – but any variety of lentils will work just fine. I added a ton of random vegetables – because I had them. You can add or omit any veggies you like.
I had a big bag of English peas & some fresh spinach that were going to spoil before I could cook them – so – I froze them.
It was about 2 cups of peas & make 4 cups of spinach but the spinach wilted in the freezer – down to about 4 cups. If you use frozen veggies in yours – add them at the very end or they will just disintegrate.
Vegan Spicy Green Coconut Curry with Vegetables & Split Lentils for the Slow Cooker
Makes a lot – likely enough to feed 6 well if served with rice
INGREDIENTS (very flexible)
2 cups lentils
2 potatoes – cubed
1 small onion – diced
1-4 cloves garlic – minced
1 small head cauliflower – cut into small florets
1-5 jalapenos – seeded & diced (use less or omit – if you do not like heat)
3-5 carrots – sliced
3 TBS ginger – minced
1 (5.5 oz) can coconut milk (use more for a richer curry)
3 TBS green curry paste
1 TBS garam masala
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp turmeric
6 cups vegetable stock
4 cups fresh spinach or 2 cups frozen
2 cups peas
S&P
GARNISH – hot sauce (like sriracha), cilantro & cooked rice (I used basmati)
DIRECTIONS
Put everything except peas, spinach & any frozen vegetables you might be using into the slow cooker. If using anything frozen – all them to thaw. Ignore my photos showing the spinach & peas being added with the other ingredients at the start. They disintegrated & I had to add more of each at the end. I also added the cauliflower after the curry had been cooking for hours – hence the different-looking imagery below.
Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours. If it is too thick, add stock or water. If it is too thin – cook a bit longer with the lid off – or mash some of the curry with a masher or immersion blender to create a thicker gravy.
15 minutes before serving – add peas, spinach & any frozen vegetables you selected. Season with S&P.
Serve with rice & garnish with cilantro & hot sauce.
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
All my posts now have a VERY customizable PRINT & PDF option. Create a PDF & save the recipe to your computer or just print it out. It offers a “remove images” option & you can delete any part of the post you do not need before printing. The button is below by the Twitter & Facebook links.
I have posted a beef stew before – my Easy Vegetarian (Vegan) Irish Stew for a Slow Cooker – from almost exactly three years ago but this current one is superior. It is superior due to my just getting better at vegan stews & a higher quality vegan meat. I am all about Beyond Meat – and I think it is the best on the market – but they don’t offer certain things. In this case – I wanted cubes of beef – and Beyond Meat only offers a ground beef. So – I decided to use both Beyond Meat’s Beefy Crumbles and Gardein’s Beefless Tips – which were wonderful in my Vegan Spicy Ginger-Garlic Red Pepper Beef Steak with Vegetable Fried Cauliflower Rice – seen just below. I used one bag of each in this stew. If you really want to ratchet up the presence of the beef – double up on one or both of these – or use your own favorite faux beef.
There are about an infinity of ingredients in this stew – most of which can be eliminated without a negative impact on this dish. I happened to have all but mushrooms, an onion & carrots on hand. If you are missing an ingredient or two (or three) – I think you will still like the results.
I used those vegetarian bouillon cubes above but I am going to stop buying them. They contain palm oil & an obscene sodium content so – I will be moving on to Better Than Bouillon, when my supply of these runs out.
I served my stew over mashed cauliflower. When I was done eating – I mixed the leftover mashed cauliflower directly into the stew. This had the effect of making it seem thicker & denser – but it is just cauliflower – so it actually lightens the dish up.
**NOTE – I made this in a slow cooker (on high) while I hiked. It was pretty much done when I returned 2 1/2 hours later. You could make this just as easily stove top – maybe in less time. Just bring to a boil & simmer until the veggies are cooked. To thicken it – return it to a boil. Whisk 1/4 cup cornstarch into some hot water & add to the boiling stew. It should thicken nicely. If not – do it again. Add water if it gets too thick.
Hearty Vegan Beef & Vegetable Stew for the Slow Cooker
Serves 6 or more
INGREDIENTS (VERY flexible – both in what you use & quantity)
1 TBS Kitchen Bouquet (seasoning available in the spice aisle or near gravy ingredients)
Few squirts Maggi (seasoning available in the spice aisle or near gravy ingredients)
1 tsp smoked (or regular) paprika
2 bay leaves
6 whole coves
1 tsp agave nectar (or sugar)
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/4 cup nutritional yeast (optional)
1/4 cup corn starch (or more)
S&P
DIRECTIONS
I really prefer slow cooker recipes that require ZERO prep. Recipes where you just dump the shit into the cooker & go away. But – I really wanted a stew-like flavor here so – I thought cooking the onions & bringing their flavor – & the flavor of the sauteed mushrooms were important. Also – browning the steak cubes assists in the visual presentation. You could certainly just dump it all in & would probably be just as happy with the result. Your call.
So – heat 2 TBS or so of oil & saute the onions & the beef cubes. When the onions start to brown. Add the garlic & saute one minute. Add the wine (or stock) and quickly deglaze the pan. Put this into the slow cooker.
In the same pan, add another TBS or so of oil & saute the mushrooms until they begin to sear. Deglaze the pan with a tiny bit of water & add the mushrooms to the slow cooker.
If you are going stove top – do the steps above & then put those things & the rest of the ingredients (EXCEPT THE CORNSTARCH) into a huge stock pot, bring to a boil & simmer until the vegetables are tender – not more than 1/2 hour. To thicken it – return it to a boil. Whisk 1/4 cup cornstarch into some hot water & add to the boiling stew. It should thicken nicely. If not – do it again. Add water if it gets too thick. Season with S&P.
If you are slow cooking it – dump the rest of the ingredients (EXCEPT THE CORNSTARCH) into the slow cooker & leave it covered & on high for 3 hours or so. To thicken it – remove the lid. Whisk 1/4 cup cornstarch into some hot water & add to the boiling stew. It should thicken nicely. If not – do it again. Leave the top off until it thickens. Add water if it gets too thick. Season with S&P.
Serve over rice or mashed potatoes or – as I did – over mashed cauliflower. When I was done eating – I mixed the leftover mashed cauliflower directly into the stew. This had the effect of making it seem thicker & denser – but it is just cauliflower – so it actually lightens the dish up.
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
All my posts now have a VERY customizable PRINT & PDF option. Create a PDF & save the recipe to your computer or just print it out. It offers a “remove images” option & you can delete any part of the post you do not need before printing. The button is below by the Twitter & Facebook links.
I whipped both the rice & the beef up within 30 minutes – the beef part taking about ten minutes. SO EASY! This is quick, easy & the most exotic ingredient is dark soy sauce – which is a very optional ingredient. As a Beyond Meat superfan – I was unfamiliar with these Gardein Beefless Tips – until today. I must confess – I found them quite delightful.
This recipe is pretty healthy – especially if you use cauliflower rice. I threw mine together with cauliflower, carrots, zucchini & jalapenos, ginger, garlic & some soy sauce and a squeeze of some Kung Pao sauce – because that was what I had. You can stir fry any combination of veggies & spices you prefer. Here are a few variations of cauliflower rice for you to consider:
Any of those rices would work – or any invention you might come up with.
Vegan Spicy Ginger-Garlic Red Pepper Beef Steak
Serves 2
INGREDIENTS
9 oz vegan steak tips or other vegan beef
2 red bell peppers – sliced
1 onion – sliced in a similar shape to the bell pepper strips
Olive oil (or coconut oil)
1 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
2 TBS minced ginger (I always use jarred because t is so much easier)
1-4 garlic cloves – minced
1 cup low-sodium soy sauce (or tamari)
1 cup water
2 TBS dark soy sauce (omit if you cannot find it)
1/2 cup (or more to taste) brown sugar
1-3 TBS cornstarch
Garnish – scallions & COOKED CAULIFLOWER RICE (make ahead because the beef cooks quickly)
DIRECTIONS
Heat about 1 TBS oil & saute the red bell & onion & beefless tips over high heat until the vegetables begin to get soft – maybe 3-5 minutes. Add the garlic & ginger & crushed red pepper. Stir to combine and cook about 1 minute. Add soy sauce, dark soy sauce, water & brown sugar. Bring to a boil & stir in cornstarch 1 TBS at a time. The sauce should thicken very quickly so you might not need to use a second or third TBS. Your call. If it gets too thick – just add water.
Serve with your cauliflower rice & some sliced scallions. Mmmmm!
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
All my posts now have a VERY customizable PRINT & PDF option. Create a PDF & save the recipe to your computer or just print it out. It offers a “remove images” option & you can delete any part of the post you do not need before printing. The button is below by the Twitter & Facebook links.
Burrito bowls – easy & endlessly customizable. I used leftover Coconut, Ginger & Jalapeno Cauliflower “Rice” – seen just above – and that made this bowl virtually guiltless – because cauliflower rice is just grated cauliflower. The only ingredients left in the bowl that were not vegetable were the vegan cheese & the black beans.
So – there is no real recipe here – but rather a list of ingredients I used & a few suggested alternate or additional ingredients.
I used a teensy bit of bottled vinaigrette on my bowl. You can toss yours with dressing or a squeeze of lime & some olive oil – or just lime – or whip up a:
Lime & Cumin Vinaigrette
1/3 cup olive oil
3 TBS lime juice
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
S&P to taste
Whisked together.
Vegan Mixed Vegetable Burrito Bowl with Cauliflower “Rice”
MY ingredients were:
Cauliflower rice (you can use regular cooked rice or try one of my cauliflower rices)
Sliced avocado
Black beans – drained & rinsed
Cherry tomatoes – halved
Arugula (you can use any lettuce or leafy greens you prefer)
Purple cabbage – sliced
Red onion – diced
Jalapeno slices
Vegan cheesed – chopped
Cilantro
Lime juice & wedges
Dressing of choice
OTHER POTENTIAL INGREDIENTS – corn, pico de gallo, sliced radishes, vegan chicken or beef crumbles, vegan sour cream or a vegan Mexican-style cheese, bell pepper, shredded carrots, guacamole, salsa, scallions, corn tortilla strips, quinoa or lentils or other grain – rather than rice.
DIRECTIONS
Assemble the bowls as you like or let individuals assemble their own. Add whatever dressing you like & mix it all up. Easy peasy!
To see images of my past posts & get links to the recipes – look on my Pinterest board – HERE.
Browsing randomly on Pinterest, I saw that spiral tart (above by Bake to the Roots) & I knew I had to make one. But – I decided to adapt the recipe & make it vegan. Overall – it was easier than I thought but, if I were to make this again (and I probably will), I would use a vegetable peeler to shave really thin pieces of the vegetables. My mandolin cut the pieces thicker than was manageable – so I had to blanch all my veggies. Also – while I tried to assemble it the way Baked to the Roots suggested (by creating the spiral from the inside out & then sliding the completed spiral into the crust) –
– that proved trickier than I could handle. Even tying kitchen string around it did nothing to make it stable enough to transfer. So – I built it up from the inside out – but IN the crust with the poured cheese at the bottom. And – if I were to try this again – I would use a potato peeler to slice thin veggies – skip blanching (except maybe the carrots) – and roll it up like a tire – starting with a center bit and alternating vegetables – but rolling it tight & upright (again – like a tire) – like they did on The Sweet Spot – seen below.
See how much thinner her slices of veggies are than mine? I bet rolling that fucker up was a breeze compared to my attempts.
Anyway – either way – the result is gorgeous & impressive & delicious & good for you! So – if you need to bring a show stopper to some holiday party this season – let me suggest this! I bet nobody will ever have seen one before.
Vegan Rustic Vegetable Spiral Tart
Feeds 4-6
INGREDIENTS
for the pastry
1 1/2 cups flour
pinch of salt
1/2 cup ice cold vegan butter
1 TBS ice water
for the filling
1 cup vegan cheddar shreds
1/4 cup vegan sour cream
1/2 cup vegan cream cheese
S&P
1 tsp or more of chili powder or any herbs of your choice (I used chili powder)
3-4 medium zucchini (green or yellow or both – I used green)
1 medium eggplant
2-3 large carrots
olive oil
S&P
DIRECTIONS
Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
You have two choices for making the dough.
In a large bowl – mix flour and salt and cold butter in small pieces. Rub the butter into the flour until it resembles crumbs. Add the water and knead the dough. Work quick so the dough does not get too warm. Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest in the fridge 30-60 minutes.
OR – pulse the butter into the flour/salt in a food processor & add the water at the end. For me – this resulted in just a bowl of crumbs but I poured them onto plastic wrap & used the wrap to press the crumbs into a ball. I then wrapped it & put it in the fridge.
Grease a 10 inch tart tin*. Maybe vegan butter is less binding than real butter – but I could not roll out the crust. So – I just pressed it – in pieces – into the tart pan until the bottom was covered & the crust went almost an inch up the sides. Place in the fridge for another 10 minutes to cool down. Doesn’t look great but nobody is ever gonna see it. Plus – when you make things that come out a little “rough around the edges,” just call them “rustic” and everything is excused.
Take the tin out of the fridge, line with baking parchment and fill with (baking) beans or a second tin bit smaller than the one with the dough. Blind bake for 15-20 minutes. The edges should be slightly golden in color. Take out of the oven and set aside. I used parchment paper & a pottery planter. I don’t think they were really necessary – so – if you are feeling lazy & adventurous – just bake the thing naked for 15-20 – or until it just starts turning color. (Ignore the circle I drew on that paper.) Remove from the oven & raise oven temperature to 375.
For the filling, melt the cheddar, cream cheese & sour cream together in a sauce pan & then stir in any seasoning or herbs you chose. Season a bit with S&P. Set aside.
Wash the vegetables and cut into thin strips with a vegetable peeler or a mandolin or a sharp knife (I would recommend the peeler). The strips should have about the same height – so you might have to half them or cut parts off. You will need a lot of those strips, so keep slicing. When done, place flat on a plate and season with salt and pepper.
Pour the cheese-mix into the pre-baked crust and spread evenly. I did not use quite all the cheese I had. You might use more or less – depending on the height of the edges of your tart – but don’t fill it up or the cheese will bubble over as you add the veggies.
If your veggies are too thick or stiff for rolling – blanch them in boiling water. My slices were almost 1/4″ thick so I started by blanching the carrots for 3 minutes & then adding the zucchini for one minute & then adding the eggplant for a final minute – so – my carrots spent 5 minutes softening. If you used a peeler – your slices should be very thin & you might not need to blanch anything – or maybe just the carrots for a minute. If you blanch things, though, submerge them in ice water to stop the cooking & to make them cool enough to handle. Pat them dry in some paper towel.
Start rolling the vegetables, by starting with one strip of carrot for example in a tight circle and then wrap zucchini or eggplant strips around. I suggest either doing this as demonstrated in the photo above (like a tire) or by just starting by curling strips around each other – directly in the center of the tart. Play around with the different vegetable strips so you get a nice color mix at the end. Continue wrapping & rolling until your circle of rolled vegetables is roughly 10 inches in diameter – or you tart is full. If you rolled them like a tire – carefully place your spiral down onto the cheese filling of the tart & use extra strips to fill in any gaps. I had lots of extra veggies so I just pureed them into a can of dog food for my dogs’ dinner.
Brush with some olive oil & season with S&P. Bake for 40-50 minutes. If the vegetables start to get too dark, cover with some aluminum foil and continue baking. Allow to rest at least ten minutes before removing from the tart pan.
Feast your eyes on your gorgeous creation & commence the feast!
*. Maybe vegan butter is less binding than real butter – but I could not roll out the crust. So – I just pressed it – in pieces – into the tart pan until the bottom was covered & the crust went almost an inch up the sides. Place in the fridge for another 10 minutes to cool down. Doesn’t look great but nobody is ever gonna see it. Plus – when you make things that come out a little “rough around the edges,” just call them “rustic” and everything is excused.
